Step-Something
6 - Reprise
Chloe stood before the apartment door. It was 5pm precisely, which was when Ben had instructed her to arrive.
She knew that she didn't
have
to be there. She was beyond uneasy at what was going to happen to her once she'd entered Ben's apartment. But she also knew that in a strange way she
needed
to be.
She had a feeling that she and Lucas wouldn't be together much longer. As much as she liked him - maybe more than liked - he wouldn't be able to give her what she needed. She hadn't brought up her desire to give control over to another and take the consequences. She was beyond doubt that he wouldn't want to take her that way.
If she could see Ben occasionally, maybe that would satisfy her cravings, and she'd be able to stay with Lucas. Or, if not Ben, someone else to whom she could give herself over. If she could find someone she trusted. She felt guilty, though, since Lucas had been so faithful to her.
So the text from Ben hadn't been something she could ignore, even though the idea of seeing him again scared her. Those tools he had... she shivered in panic, but it was eager anticipation, not fear, that caused the sudden goosebumps on her arms.
He'd told her to come straight in. She took a deep breath and rang the bell anyway, not wanting to be rude, but immediately tried the front door latch. The door opened, and she stepped into the familiar living room.
The dark rolltop desk was open. It had a sheet of drawing paper taped to it. On the paper, in hot pink, was the word "Candy." She moved over to it, finding a handwritten note on the desk.
Candy. You will change your clothes for these. Change completely. There is a box of underwear by the desk. Do not wear your own. Everything is new and laundered. When you're changed, there is a blindfold above this note. Wear it. Ensure that you can see nothing. When you're changed and blindfolded, say "I'm done." - Ben
Her sense of horror overrode her excitement, just as it had done on her first visit. Change clothes and blindfold herself? What the hell? She trusted Ben for - well, for
something
. Trusted him not to abuse her, perhaps. That's as far as it could go, since pain and control were what he offered. She trusted him not to abuse the control. Didn't she? Could she trust him with these bizarre instructions?
She stood before the desk in indecision. She should walk out. She really should. But how would she know what he was offering if she did?
Still unresolved, she looked at the clothing. A thin sweatsuit - black zip-front top and pants. At least it was in her color. Very unflattering, though. She thought he'd want to see her in leather, so she was wearing leather pants, boots, and a low black tee with an open leather jacket.
The box of underwear had two pairs of panties and an assortment of bras. She realized as she was choosing which to try that she must have decided to go through with the script, and began to strip.
The black t-shirt bra was comfortable, so she left it on. She grabbed the first pair of panties that came to hand and stepped into them. Then she slipped into the pants and top. Both were a little tighter than they looked. Without a mirror to check, she felt that they looked better than she'd expected, especially if she unzipped the top to show a little cleavage.
Before taking the blindfold, she folded her own clothes and set them on the couch. Then she bound the blindfold about her head. Once it was in place it was effective. She could see nothing, not even the level of brightness around her. If she waved her hands before her eyes there was no change in the dark.
Chloe sighed nervously, then said, "I'm done."
She didn't know how she'd been heard, but a door opened, and soft footsteps approached her. Bare feet, judging by the near-silence of the steps. Fingers tugged at the blindfold, likely checking that it was in place. Ben didn't speak, but a gentle tug on her sleeve guided her through the room.
Ben's cologne seemed out of place. Stronger and more floral than she remembered. Or maybe he didn't wear cologne at all. The pull on her sleeve led her into another room. Ben's bedroom, if she recalled the geography of the apartment correctly. Her hand was guided to the back of a chair, and she assumed that she was to sit. After feeling around the chair to figure out where the seat was, she sat.
Each hand was guided behind the chair. She felt her wrists being wrapped in rope. Nails occasionally grazed her skin. That seemed discordant too. She hadn't noticed Ben's nails being especially long.
Her wrists weren't bound together. In fact, they were separated by about the width of the back of the chair. But then they were drawn together, the rope between them apparently pulled together into a knot, anchored to the chair back.
"You're Chloe?" came a voice.
Chloe started in panic. She tried to stand, but lifted the chair. Hands steadied it, and guided her back into it. The voice had
not
been Ben's. It had been a woman's soprano.
"Who are you?" Chloe demanded.
"I'm a friend of Ben's," the woman said. "Call me Annie. Do you have a safeword?"
"What?" Chloe asked.
"A safeword. Didn't you arrange one with Ben? You can use it now, if you want. You should hear me out, first."
"I don't have a safeword," Chloe replied. She knew what one was, it had been a big factor in the books she loved, but she and Ben hadn't negotiated one.
"Choose one, before we go any further," the woman said. "You can use it at any time and we'll be done."
'I don't know..." Chloe began, then, "Swordfish. That's my safeword." She had no idea why it had popped into her head, but it certainly wasn't a word that would be part of a conversation.
"Ben calls you Candy." It was a statement, rather than a question.
"Yes," Chloe said.
"Would you prefer Chloe or Candy?" the woman asked.